By Trisha Bautista
If you’re a mother, you’ve probably realized that everything they say about the joys of motherhood is true, and more. You’ve experienced them all: watching your baby coo, laugh, and crack his first smile, being called “mama” for the first time, seeing your partner become a great father, and marvelling at the tiny, perfect human you’ve somehow created.
But as every mom knows and understands, with the joys of motherhood come all of the confusing, exhausting, and mind-boggling moments that make you feel like you are constantly at the end of your rope.
After months of dealing with crazy pregnancy hormones, you give birth and are gifted with even crazier hormones! You know what we mean—those (many) moments where you just want to cry along with your baby out of sheer exhaustion.
Sometimes, you really just have to give yourself a break. Caring for a family is a 25-hour job, and the list of things to do are endless. However, once in a while, remember that you need to be taken care of, too. After all, a happy, healthy (mentally, emotionally, and physically), and well-rested woman and mother makes a happy, healthy home.
Here are ten self-care commitments you owe yourself—you deserve it!
1. Drink more water than you think you need.
Studies reveal that most people drink waaaay less water than we need. As soon as you get up in the morning, drink a glass of water. Drink a glass before and after every meal. Drink before and after nursing, and drink every time you remember! This is especially important if you’re breastfeeding, because you need plenty of fluids to keep your milk supply flowing and to prevent painful clogged ducts.
2. Stop beating yourself up about that elusive “pre-baby” body.
Are you looking at the mirror wistfully remembering your pre-baby body? Hey, you just grew a human being (or two, or three). Maybe your body will go back to the way it was before; maybe it won’t. You’re at a new stage in your life and things, (and bodies) change! Give yourself time to ease into your new normal, and take the time to find a new exercise routine that works for you.
3. Move a little everyday.
Take walks. Dance with your kid or your partner. Ditch the elevator and take the stairs. Moving does not have to mean breaking a sweat at the gym (seriously, where do we find the time?!) everyday. You’d be surprised at how many calories just dancing with your toddler or running after them can burn.
4. Ditch the junk—REALLY.
We’re not telling you to give up the joys of eating. But sometimes, all you need is a little paradigm shift, and a little adjustment. You owe it to yourself (and to your baby) to be as healthy as you can be, and let’s face it—the junk food (we mean processed meats, unnecessary sugar, soda, and too-sweet juices, among others) really isn’t doing you any favors. Start with small changes like instead of eating fast food five times a week, cut it down to twice. Or, instead of opting for hot dogs and spam every breakfast, go for overnight oats and easy-to-source fruits like bananas and apples. To make it less tempting, just don’t buy any processed food or junk from the grocery store. We know it’s hard to come up with full on healthy meals every single day, so try weaning yourself from junk little by little.
5. Pamper yourself.
Whether it means full-on salon, spa, and depilatory treatments once a month, or just one really, really, long, quiet shower every week, you need this—for your sanity and vanity. We know, pampering sessions don’t come cheap, so you can even do this at home. Get your partner, or yaya, or mom, to watch the kids for two hours and just shut yourself up in your room or bath room. Take a long shower without worrying about who’s crying, or soak in the tub with some bath bombs with your favorite book or series.
6. Get into yoga.
Yes, even if it’s just once a week. Whether or not you have a helper or babysitter, you can make time for this—even if you have to bring them with you to the studio. If you’re just getting into exercise again, start with a low-intensity class like restorative or yin yoga. Let the teacher know so they can help you modify your practice. Yoga is great for getting you reconnected with your body, your breath, and the practice of just breathing. It’s also a great space to just be able to clear your head for an hour.
7. Take up a hobby.
We know how hard it is to find time for the gazillion things us moms have to do in a day—but sometimes, a hobby or creative outlet can help us stay sane, and help us to become more productive! Join a one-day workshop to learn a new skill you can do in your downtime or to help you document your motherhood journey—calligraphy, photography, or even painting.
8. Don’t eat your kid’s leftovers.
It may seem like a waste, but you’re not doing yourself any favors by doing this. Getting into this habit is often a cause for weight gain and even obesity down the road, because you’ll end up eating your own share of calories, plus your kid’s leftovers.
9. Delegate some tasks.
Sometimes, the control freak in all of us prefers to do things ourselves when it comes to our kids. But it’s okay to let other people take over some tasks, not just to help you, but to help them form bonds with your baby, too. Let your husband take the evening shift with your kids while you take the mornings, or vice versa. Or when you take your kids to the grandparents on weekends, have them bring some homework so they can ask help from lolo and lola while you and your partner get some date time. After all, it takes a village to raise a child!
10. Go out with your girl friends!
Make time for a GNO even just once a quarter. Sometimes you need to get out of mommy mode and just enjoy time with your friends—for girl talk, chismis, and maybe a glass of wine (or three). Even if it’s just brunch, make it a point to dress up and wear makeup, and hey—take lots of photos! We know it’s rare to actually have photos of yourself all dressed up when you’re a mom.
Whether you find time to do just one thing on this list or all of them and more, do give yourself a break every now and then.
Do it for your children and your partners, but more importantly, do it for yourself. Just because you’re taking care of everyone else now, doesn’t mean your sanity and health have take to take a back seat.
Allow yourself these pockets of time for self-care because you’ll be the better for it, and your family will benefit from it, too.
